Category Archives: etiquette

Tips for Tipping Your Vendors and Service Providers

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Last week one of my clients asked about proper etiquette on tipping her vendors and service providers because she realizes the hard work and efforts they contribute to make her wedding day a success and wants them to be compensated fairly for it. While customs and amounts vary across the world, tipping is necessary as it is intended to supplement the low base salaries earned by many hard workers.

Photo by Steven Torres (via Brides.com)

Here are a few rules of thumb:

  • Vendors that provide a product (i.e. cake baker, caterer, florist) typically do not receive a tip, but vendors that provide a service (i.e. musician, limo drivers, bartenders) should be tipped.
  • Remember, tips are intended for workers who receive lower base salaries so vendors who are self-employed or the owner of a business do not generally receive a tip unless certain circumstances compel you to.
  • Anyone that has gone above and beyond their call of duty, no matter if they’re providing a product or service should be acknowledged with a spontaneous tip.

TIPPING AMOUNTS

  • Hair & Makeup – 15% to 20% of the total bill
  • Ceremony Musicians – $25 to $50 per musician
  • Officiant – $50 if married by a judge or clerk; clergy member do not accept tips so instead, make a donation to their house of worship (typically $100)
  • Photographers/Videographers – $100 to $200 if they are part of a large agency, but not the owner
  • Servers – 15% of the total pretax food bill
  • Bartenders – 10% to 15% of the total pretax portion of the bar bill. *Be sure to request that the bartender does not set out a tip jar for guests to feel obligated to tip
  • Reception Musicians or DJ – $25 to $50 per person
  • Limousine Driver – 15% to 20% of the total bill. *You can request their gratuity be added on to the bill so you have it out of the way.
  • Valet Parking – $1 to $2 per car given to the supervisor at the beginning of the night and split among the staff. *Display a sign at the valet station that says gratuities have been taken care of. Instruct the valet attendants to refuse any tips offered by guests.
  • Restroom/Coat Attendants – $1 to $2 per guests
  • Delivery People – $5 to $20 per driver depending on the amount of heavy lifting, on-site setup and pick up that come with producing your wedding.
You’ll want to set aside an extra 15% of your budget for unexpected tipping. Many hotels and clubs include a service charge for their staff so before signing any vendor contracts, ask whether or not gratuity is included in the total cost. 
Some service providers should be tipped before the event, which your wedding coordinator can take care of for you. They will also ensure your service providers do not set out a tip jar of any kind as to make your guests feel obligated to tip.
When preparing your tip envelopes, be sure to include a handwritten note of thanks and seal each envelope securely. If a tip is spontaneous and unexpected, the best way to disburse is to wait until the next day so you can prepare a handwritten note of thanks to include. Be sure to point out what they did that made you extra appreciative.

——-


Embellished Events
{Inspire} {Create} {Embellish}
Phone: (843) 757-7762
Email: Info@EmbellishedWeddings.com

Tips for Tipping Your Vendors and Service Providers

Posted on by

0

Last week one of my clients asked about proper etiquette on tipping her vendors and service providers because she realizes the hard work and efforts they contribute to make her wedding day a success and wants them to be compensated fairly for it. While customs and amounts vary across the world, tipping is necessary as it is intended to supplement the low base salaries earned by many hard workers.

Photo by Steven Torres (via Brides.com)

Here are a few rules of thumb:

  • Vendors that provide a product (i.e. cake baker, caterer, florist) typically do not receive a tip, but vendors that provide a service (i.e. musician, limo drivers, bartenders) should be tipped.
  • Remember, tips are intended for workers who receive lower base salaries so vendors who are self-employed or the owner of a business do not generally receive a tip unless certain circumstances compel you to.
  • Anyone that has gone above and beyond their call of duty, no matter if they’re providing a product or service should be acknowledged with a spontaneous tip.

TIPPING AMOUNTS

  • Hair & Makeup – 15% to 20% of the total bill
  • Ceremony Musicians – $25 to $50 per musician
  • Officiant – $50 if married by a judge or clerk; clergy member do not accept tips so instead, make a donation to their house of worship (typically $100)
  • Photographers/Videographers – $100 to $200 if they are part of a large agency, but not the owner
  • Servers – 15% of the total pretax food bill
  • Bartenders – 10% to 15% of the total pretax portion of the bar bill. *Be sure to request that the bartender does not set out a tip jar for guests to feel obligated to tip
  • Reception Musicians or DJ – $25 to $50 per person
  • Limousine Driver – 15% to 20% of the total bill. *You can request their gratuity be added on to the bill so you have it out of the way.
  • Valet Parking – $1 to $2 per car given to the supervisor at the beginning of the night and split among the staff. *Display a sign at the valet station that says gratuities have been taken care of. Instruct the valet attendants to refuse any tips offered by guests.
  • Restroom/Coat Attendants – $1 to $2 per guests
  • Delivery People – $5 to $20 per driver depending on the amount of heavy lifting, on-site setup and pick up that come with producing your wedding.
You’ll want to set aside an extra 15% of your budget for unexpected tipping. Many hotels and clubs include a service charge for their staff so before signing any vendor contracts, ask whether or not gratuity is included in the total cost. 
Some service providers should be tipped before the event, which your wedding coordinator can take care of for you. They will also ensure your service providers do not set out a tip jar of any kind as to make your guests feel obligated to tip.
When preparing your tip envelopes, be sure to include a handwritten note of thanks and seal each envelope securely. If a tip is spontaneous and unexpected, the best way to disburse is to wait until the next day so you can prepare a handwritten note of thanks to include. Be sure to point out what they did that made you extra appreciative.

——-


Embellished Events
{Inspire} {Create} {Embellish}
Phone: (843) 757-7762
Email: Info@EmbellishedWeddings.com

Choosing the Style of Your Wedding

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DECIDING THE FORMALITY
In choosing the style of your wedding, many considerations must be addressed. The first decision is to decide how formal or informal your wedding will be. Formality can be determined by considering the location of the ceremony and reception, number of guests, size of the wedding party and time of day. There are three types of weddings: Formal, Informal and Semiformal. Below are some guidelines to help you determine which is most suitable for your affair:

Image by Photography by Anne




Formal Weddings

  • Ceremony - Typically take place in a house of worship or in a large home
  • Wedding Party Size - The wedding party usually consists of 8-20 attendants
  • Wedding Party Attire - The bridesmaids wear floor-length dresses and the groom and his groomsmen wear suits or tuxedos
  • Guest Attire - Female guests wear street-length dresses for a daytime wedding and floor-length or cocktail dresses for evening weddings. Male guests wear either suits and ties for a daytime wedding or tuxedos for an evening wedding. “White Tie” is the most formal wedding
  • Reception Location - The reception usually involves a sit-down dinner, elaborate decorations, music and dancing in an elegant location
Semiformal Weddings
  • Ceremony - Typically take place in a house of worship, a hotel, a club, a home or a garden
  • Wedding Party Size - The wedding party usually consists of 4-12 attendants
  • Wedding Party Attire - The bride and her attendants wear long, ballerina or tea-length dresses. The groom and his attendants wear a formal suit for daytime or evening weddings.
  • Guest Attire - Female guests wear street-length tailored or semi0dressy dresses for daytime weddings and cocktail dresses for evening weddings. Men wear dark suits for either daytime or evening weddings.
  • Reception Location - The reception can involve a plated meal or stationed buffet and music provided by a small band or DJ.

Informal Weddings

  • Ceremony - Can take place in a house of worship, a home or a garden and may be presided over by a notary or justice of the peace.
  • Wedding Party Size - The wedding party usually consists of 2-6 attendants
  • Wedding Party Attire - The bride and her attendants usually wear simple white or pastel floor-length gowns or ballerina, tea-length or street-length dresses. The groom and his attendants wear sports coats and slacks or suits.
  • Guest Attire - Female guests wear something appropriate for the location. Men wear sport jackets and slacks.
  • Reception Location - The reception can take place in a home or at a restaurant. It may even involve a brunch or lunch int he mid-morning or an early afternoon wedding with hand-passed hors d’oeuvres or a simple buffet. Music may be provided by a single musician or even a jazz duo. Music could even be played in the background from a playlist on your iPod.  

DECIDING ON A COLOR SCHEME

Next, you’ll want to decide on a color scheme for your wedding! Many brides let this decision be one of the hardest to settle on and with so many options out there, it’s no wonder!! Here are some things to consider to help you narrow down your colors:

Image by Verve Studio
  • Time of Year – Think about the colors you associate with each season (i.e. pastels for spring, bright pops of color in summer and darker shades for fall and winter)
  • Seasonal Flowers – Research which flowers are in season during the time of year your wedding will take place. Which ones are your favorites? What colors do they come in? Let this steer you in a certain direction.
  • Bridesmaids Dresses – Consider the skin tone of your bridesmaids and the colors that will look good on them. If you have many types of skin tones, you may just opt for a neutral color and bring in your color scheme with their jewelry, shoes and flowers.
  • Location of the Wedding – Look closely at the surroundings of where your wedding will take place. Are there certain colors that you notice in the decor that you like and might be able to complement? Build off of what you have around you if you can.
  • Personal Style – Consider your clothing, accessories, household decor, even your favorite catalogues to see what colors you’re naturally drawn to.
For more tips and advise on wedding planning, become a fan of our Facebook page! To inquire about hiring Embellished Events for your upcoming wedding, please contact us!
——-






Embellished Events
{Inspire} {Create} {Embellish}
Phone: (843) 757-7762
Email: Info@EmbellishedWeddings.com

Choosing the Style of Your Wedding

Posted on by

0

DECIDING THE FORMALITY
In choosing the style of your wedding, many considerations must be addressed. The first decision is to decide how formal or informal your wedding will be. Formality can be determined by considering the location of the ceremony and reception, number of guests, size of the wedding party and time of day. There are three types of weddings: Formal, Informal and Semiformal. Below are some guidelines to help you determine which is most suitable for your affair:

Image by Photography by Anne




Formal Weddings

  • Ceremony - Typically take place in a house of worship or in a large home
  • Wedding Party Size - The wedding party usually consists of 8-20 attendants
  • Wedding Party Attire - The bridesmaids wear floor-length dresses and the groom and his groomsmen wear suits or tuxedos
  • Guest Attire - Female guests wear street-length dresses for a daytime wedding and floor-length or cocktail dresses for evening weddings. Male guests wear either suits and ties for a daytime wedding or tuxedos for an evening wedding. “White Tie” is the most formal wedding
  • Reception Location - The reception usually involves a sit-down dinner, elaborate decorations, music and dancing in an elegant location
Semiformal Weddings
  • Ceremony - Typically take place in a house of worship, a hotel, a club, a home or a garden
  • Wedding Party Size - The wedding party usually consists of 4-12 attendants
  • Wedding Party Attire - The bride and her attendants wear long, ballerina or tea-length dresses. The groom and his attendants wear a formal suit for daytime or evening weddings.
  • Guest Attire - Female guests wear street-length tailored or semi0dressy dresses for daytime weddings and cocktail dresses for evening weddings. Men wear dark suits for either daytime or evening weddings.
  • Reception Location - The reception can involve a plated meal or stationed buffet and music provided by a small band or DJ.

Informal Weddings

  • Ceremony - Can take place in a house of worship, a home or a garden and may be presided over by a notary or justice of the peace.
  • Wedding Party Size - The wedding party usually consists of 2-6 attendants
  • Wedding Party Attire - The bride and her attendants usually wear simple white or pastel floor-length gowns or ballerina, tea-length or street-length dresses. The groom and his attendants wear sports coats and slacks or suits.
  • Guest Attire - Female guests wear something appropriate for the location. Men wear sport jackets and slacks.
  • Reception Location - The reception can take place in a home or at a restaurant. It may even involve a brunch or lunch int he mid-morning or an early afternoon wedding with hand-passed hors d’oeuvres or a simple buffet. Music may be provided by a single musician or even a jazz duo. Music could even be played in the background from a playlist on your iPod.  

DECIDING ON A COLOR SCHEME

Next, you’ll want to decide on a color scheme for your wedding! Many brides let this decision be one of the hardest to settle on and with so many options out there, it’s no wonder!! Here are some things to consider to help you narrow down your colors:

Image by Verve Studio
  • Time of Year – Think about the colors you associate with each season (i.e. pastels for spring, bright pops of color in summer and darker shades for fall and winter)
  • Seasonal Flowers – Research which flowers are in season during the time of year your wedding will take place. Which ones are your favorites? What colors do they come in? Let this steer you in a certain direction.
  • Bridesmaids Dresses – Consider the skin tone of your bridesmaids and the colors that will look good on them. If you have many types of skin tones, you may just opt for a neutral color and bring in your color scheme with their jewelry, shoes and flowers.
  • Location of the Wedding – Look closely at the surroundings of where your wedding will take place. Are there certain colors that you notice in the decor that you like and might be able to complement? Build off of what you have around you if you can.
  • Personal Style – Consider your clothing, accessories, household decor, even your favorite catalogues to see what colors you’re naturally drawn to.
For more tips and advise on wedding planning, become a fan of our Facebook page! To inquire about hiring Embellished Events for your upcoming wedding, please contact us!
——-






Embellished Events
{Inspire} {Create} {Embellish}
Phone: (843) 757-7762
Email: Info@EmbellishedWeddings.com

Wedding Planning 101: Establishing Your Budget

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First Things First…Who Pays?
Traditionally the bride’s family assumes the burden of most wedding costs, a custom derived from the ancient practice of providing a large dowry to attract a good husband. Nowadays however, just 27% of weddings are paid for solely by the bride’s parents. Up to 70% are paid for either by the couple or by a combination of the bride’s and groom’s family.
Photo by Allison Reisz Photography
Step 1 of Wedding Planning is to determine your budget, or what you can afford to contribute to your wedding. By doing so, you’ll be spared the nightmare of running up unnecessary debts and will alleviate the potential for anxiety and stress between you and your loved ones. Simply stated: Base your budget around what you and your parents can afford.
  • Start with a Figure. Before signing any contracts with vendors, determine a dollar amount of what you believe you can spend on your wedding. If you have $40,000 to spend on the wedding and you’ve fallen in love with a venue that has a $30,000 food and beverage minimum, you likely are not leaving enough money to spend on other costs {photography, dress, entertainment, cake, etc.}. Unless someone else is going to contribute to the costs of your wedding, you need to think more realistically in lines with your budget. 
  • Economy versus Value. Value is knowing precisely what you want and what you are willing to pay. Economy is finding what you want at the best available price. The best way to achieve economy is to hire a professional wedding planner who will save you valuable time and money by referring you to vendors that will deliver the best quality product while staying within your budget.
  • Tips on Budgeting. The best way to get the most value out of your budget is to hire a professional planner who can realistically explain what you can get out of the figure you’ve established. Additionally, they can negotiate with vendors to get better pricing and then pass those savings on to you {often times these savings will almost completely off-set the costs of hiring a planner in the first place}! 
  • Best Way to Economize on Big Items. 
    • Cut your guest list. Not always easy to do, but is the fastest way to take a big chunk out of your budget.
    • Choose a date in the off-peak months when prices are not at a premium.
    • Choose a day during the week other than a Saturday. Perhaps the venue fee will be waived or the food and beverage minimum can be reduced. Both could shave off thousands from your budget!


Tomorrow’s Topic: Size and Location
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Embellished Events
{Inspire} {Create} {Embellish}
Phone: (843) 757-7762
Email: Info@EmbellishedWeddings.com

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